Loose leaf binder



Jan. 9, 1934. H, MQREHEAD 1,942,564

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 8, 1931 INV ENT OR. HAP? Y 51702679540 ATTORNE Y Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to binders, and particularly to a loose leaf ringbinder.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a loose leafbinder in which the loose leaves are mounted in register when the binderis open and some of the leaves are turned to rest on the top cover.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a binder includingbreakable rings for holding the loose leaves, in which the rings carrythe pull of the leaves in both open and closed positions by impingementon both covers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a binder of thecharacter described free of mechanical complications and which cantherefore be manufactured and sold at a relatively low cost.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adoptvariant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claim.

Referring to the drawing:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the binder of my invention inopen position; the dotted lines indicate the relative location of theparts in a partially closed binder.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken thru the hinge or back portion of thebinder to show the position of the ring and covers when the binder isfully opened.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken thru the hinge portion of the binderto show the position of the ring and covers in the closed binder.

Broadly considered the binder of my invention comprises flexiblyconnected covers with leaf holding rings encircling the flexibleconnecting portions and passing thru the covers adjacent thereto. Thering apertures in one of the covers provide a sliding fit on thecontained ring, but in the other cover the ring apertures are elongatedso that the cover may be turned from the closed position to the fullyopen position upon the rings. In both the open and closed positions theedges of the elongated apertures provide support for the rings againstthe pull of the sheets. The object of this construction is to mount theleaves of the binder .in accurate register in both open and closedposition of the cover; and also insures leaf to leaf registry betweenadjacent pages. On account of the extreme simplicity of the constructionthe manufacture of my binder is relatively simple while resultsordinarily requiring expensive construction are insured.

In greater detail the binder of my invention comprises an upper cover 2and a lower cover 3 made of any suitable material such as leather,fabricoid or buckram. As a matter of convenience in handling, theflexible type made of leather or fabricoid is most satisfactory. Theback 4 flexibly connecting the covers along one edge may be a separateunit suitably secured to each cover, or it may be an integral part of asheet which forms both covers and back. Since it is desirable to keepmanufacturing costs at a minimum the single folded sheet is advantageousand provides a flatter more compact binder.

Rings 6, preferably the well known break rings, encircle the flexibleback and pass thru apertures in the covers adjacent the back. Theapertures '7 in the lower cover are preferably only slightly larger thanthe diameter of the rings so that a sliding fit is provided between therings and cover. Constant movement of the rings would tend to enlargethe apertures '7 and to prevent this, metallic means 8 such as a metaleyelet or grommet is secured in the aperture to form a rim therefor.This arrangement of the parts holds the rings firmly so that the rockingcustomarily found in loose ring binders is obviated.

The apertures 9 in the upper cover are preferably elongated in the planeof the contained ring, to provide engaging edges for the ring in bothopen and closed position of the binder. This construction permits theupper cover to be turned from the closed position to the fullyopenposition upon the rings without tearing or stressing any of theadjacent parts of the cover or binder.

It will be noted that in open position of the upper cover, the pull ofthe sheets retained by the ring would force the ring against the metalrim 8 and the edge 11 of the aperture 9; while in closed position thepull would force the ring against the metal rim 8 and the edge 12 of theapertures 9. In this way a two point suspension is provided which mountsthe leaves to be retained in register with the binder, and insuresaccurate leaf-to-leaf registry in both open and closed positions. Thisbinder is therefore particularly applicable to school records ofattendance and scholarship in which close rulings extending over manypages must be kept accurately aligned.

I claim:

A binder comprising connected covers having apertures therein, and aring for holding leaves passing through said cover apertures, theaperture in one of the covers providing a relatively snug sliding fitfor the ring and the aperture in the other cover being elongated and ofsuch length that one end edge binds against the inner side of the ringto pull the latter against the edges'of the snug fitting aperture in theopen position of the covers and the other end edge binds against theouter side of the ring to push the same against the edges of the snugfitting aperture in the closed position of the covers.

HARRY F. MOREHEAD.

